Rye tapped for role with state Board of Education

A longtime Sudduth Elementary teacher has been named to a prominent position for the Mississippi State Board of Education.

Brittney Rye, a 17-year veteran kindergarten teacher at Sudduth, has been appointed by Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant to serve as the Mississippi State Board of Education’s school teacher representative. In the position, she will serve as a representative of all public school teachers in Mississippi to the board, and will attend meetings and address concerns relating to teachers in Mississippi. Her term begins on July 1, and will last for nine years.

“I will say it’s a little overwhelming,” Rye said. “You do think ‘nine years,’ but at the same time I understand that, because when you get in that type of a capacity, there’s such a big learning curve that when you get to that learning curve and you feel like you’ve got some understanding of what’s expected of you, then you’ve got somebody that can serve in that capacity and be knowledgeable.”

Rye said she would have to spend some time getting up to speed on the board and issues facing Mississippi teachers. She plans on reading articles and following the board’s meetings online to prepare.

She will remain a classroom teacher at Sudduth for the duration of her time at the board, as the position requires her to continue teaching.

She said she was first asked if she was interested in the position the Friday prior to spring break, when she was contacted by Bryant’s office.

“I told her I definitely was interested, that I would need time to talk with my husband of course, and pray about it, because it’s very important of me to make sure I’m following in His will,” Rye said. “That Monday, I called her back and said I would love to pursue it.”

She said she had a successful meeting with Bryant on Tuesday, where she met the governor for the first time and discussed education issues with him.

“I felt very comfortable having a conversation, and I felt like he really listened to some of my concerns, and asked me lots of questions about things I saw as a classroom teacher,” Rye said.

Rye has served on several advisory and accreditation boards and also spent a year working

for Mississippi State University before returning to Sudduth. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education from MSU.

Sudduth Elementary Principal Elizabeth Mosley said Rye was one of the best teachers she knew.

“I am so proud and so happy, not only for Brittney Rye, but for the StarkvilleOktibbeha Consolidated School District,” Mosley said. “I think this is a great honor. I think the state will benefit from having her on the board, because I think she’s a wonderful person to be on the state board of education. Her knowledge and her passion for students is just great.”